Free Web NovelChapter 1281: Chapter 768: Familiar Face
"Xixi, I’m sorry, I’m late." The moment the door opened, a slightly hoarse male voice sounded. Luo Ye’s brows knitted and she unconsciously shifted her body to the side.
Feng Tianzhi noticed the change in her expression and asked in a low voice, "You know him?"
Luo Ye nodded honestly. "The voice sounds familiar, but there are plenty of people with similar voices. How could it be such a coincidence?"
While the two of them were whispering, Jing Xi had already walked in with a sturdy young man. The moment his gaze landed on Luo Ye, he froze for a second, then his face immediately broke into a wide smile. "Luo Ye, long time no see."
"Long time no see." Luo Ye’s lips curved up. You really do run into people everywhere in life. This guy actually was an old acquaintance—Wang Wei, son of Wang Lidong, the former deputy director of the Organization Department in Yuan Island City.
Back then, after Wang Lidong was arrested when his case came to light, Xiang Xiaohua took her son Wang Wei and moved out of the City Government Office compound. Since then, they’d never seen each other again.
"You two know each other?" Jing Xi’s expression grew a bit tense. The look she gave Luo Ye faintly carried hostility. As expected, a girl in love is the most prone to overthinking and wild suspicion.
"We do." Wang Wei laughed awkwardly. "Xiao Xi, which one is your big brother?" Jing Chen and Jing Xi didn’t look the least bit alike, so it was normal that Wang Wei couldn’t tell.
"This is my brother Jing Chen, this is Brother Feng, Feng Tianzhi, and this is Brother Ma, Ma Tengyue. Since you know Luo Ye, I don’t need to introduce her, do I?"
The last sentence was thick with jealousy. Clearly, she was not happy that Wang Wei and Luo Ye knew each other and he hadn’t explained much about it.
Luo Ye swept Wang Wei a cool glance, then looked at Jing Xi. "Before my dad was transferred here, our family used to live in the same compound as Wang Wei’s family. And Wang Wei didn’t exactly bully my brother any less."
Being envied over because of someone like this was really not worth it, so she gave a suitable explanation. As for what Jing Xi ultimately chose to do, she didn’t intend to interfere. A girl who’s fanatically blind in love can’t be talked out of it; unless she figures it out herself.
She wasn’t her parent; she was too lazy to do something that only invites resentment. Still that same line: everyone has to be responsible for their own actions. If someone has already pointed out a clear road and you insist on taking a narrow goat track straight off a cliff, who can you blame?
"Back then I was young and immature. If I get the chance, I’ll definitely apologize to Luo Feng in person." Wang Wei let out a light sigh and looked at Jing Xi. "I told you about my dad. Governor Luo used to be his superior."
"Luo Ye, I’m sorry." Guilt crept into Jing Xi’s brows and eyes. "My biggest flaw is that I’m petty when it comes to relationships. Don’t hold it against me, okay?"
Jing Chen pointed to the spot beside him. "Sit down first."
"Thank you, big brother." Wang Wei obediently sat down next to Jing Chen.
"What do you do for work now?"
"I started my own trading company."
"Oh?" Jing Chen raised an eyebrow. "How’s business?" ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
"Feeding me and my mom isn’t a problem."
"Really?" Jing Chen looked at Jing Xi. "You hear that? If we add you in, I’m afraid it might become a problem."
Wang Wei hurriedly stood up. "No, big brother, you misunderstood what I meant. I should’ve said supporting my family isn’t a problem. I was worried you’d say I was bragging, so I put it a bit modestly."
"If I’m not mistaken, your dad should still be inside, right?" Jing Chen locked his gaze on him. "Have you told Xiao Xi about this?"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Jing Xi rushed to answer. "I knew from the moment we met. He really did start from scratch on his own. Bro, a guy like that counts as having backbone, doesn’t he?"
"I wasn’t asking you!" Jing Chen shot Jing Xi a glare, then turned back to Wang Wei. "Answer me honestly. Do you know what the Jing Family does?"
"From what Xiao Xi told me, Uncle is a civil servant, Auntie is a doctor, and you’re also a civil servant, big brother. There are also Grandpa and Grandma at home.
You and Xiao Xi were raised by your grandparents. It’s only in recent years, when Uncle and Auntie haven’t been as busy, that the whole family has really been together. That’s what I know. To sum it up simply, that’s it."
Seeing Jing Chen’s gaze shift to her, Jing Xi hurried to add, "That’s exactly how I told him about our family situation."
"Big brother, I really did have a lot of flaws in the past. After my father’s incident, when my mom and I moved out of the compound, my life plummeted from the peak to the bottom. Relatives and friends all stayed far away from us, like my mom and I were some kind of plague.
My mother’s personality used to be flamboyant and overbearing, but ever since my father’s case, she completely changed into another person, cautiously tiptoeing around everyone. Seeing her like that made me feel awful, so I secretly made up my mind that I had to hold this family up, that I couldn’t let my mother suffer that kind of humiliation anymore, and couldn’t let my father in prison worry about us.
The old me lived a life where clothes and food were handed to me. What’s more, I dropped out of university, had no experience, no ability, no diploma. Trying to find a suitable job was easier said than done.
It just so happened there was a trading company in the neighborhood where we were renting that was hiring. The pay was low, but they didn’t have too many requirements, so I applied.
I started as a merchandiser. As an insignificant little employee, being cursed out by the boss was a daily occurrence. Many times I wanted to give up, but when I thought of my mother, I held on.
Just like that, I stayed there for a full year, quietly observing the processes of foreign trade and quietly building up my own network.
Then I started my own small trading company. With hard work, I slowly got it on track; with some luck, it gradually grew.
Along the way, I met quite a few kind people, some who truly wanted to help me. Without them, I absolutely wouldn’t be where I am today.
They’re the ones who made me see the good in this society, and also made me realize just how outrageously wrong I used to be. At the same time, I understood that the old me really didn’t know how to judge people.
Big brother, everything I just said is the absolute truth. If there’s even half a lie, may heaven strike me with thunder..."
"Enough!" Jing Chen cut him off. "Stop with all that nonsense. Whether it’s true or not, time reveals a person’s heart. Whether you really don’t know what the Jing Family does, I’ll find out.
You said all that mainly to explain yourself in front of Luo Ye, so she won’t tell us what you did in the past and affect things between you and Xiao Xi.
Wang Wei, what matters in a person is what they do, not what they say. No matter how much you talk today, I still don’t see your sincerity. To be honest, the fact that you and Luo Ye knew each other really took me by surprise.
So on this matter, give us time, and give yourself time, too. Xiao Xi is the Little Princess of the Jing Family. Her marriage isn’t just her own affair. You need to get that straight."
----
To tell the truth, Nu’an gave herself a day off today to relax a bit. Lately, all kinds of negative emotions have been really serious—maybe from long-term overload, maybe from work, maybe from writing. All sorts of accumulated reasons have left President Nuan feeling very irritable. Updating every day was purely out of responsibility. That state really wasn’t good. So after dealing with things today, Nu’an gave herself a day off to adjust. Her mood is much better now, and the developments coming up have her feeling more fired up again. There will be two Chapters tomorrow. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast a Recommendation ticket or monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
